First Central Congregational Church (Omaha, Neb.)

The Rev. Reuben Gaylord, the "father of Nebraska Congregationalism," founded the First Congregational Church of Omaha on May 4, 1856. In addition to the Rev. Gaylord, the charter members included his wife Mary, daughter Sarah, Mr. and Mrs. O.D. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. B.H. Chapman, James W. Seymour, and a Miss Allen. In 1918 the First Congregational Church and the St. Mary's Avenue Congregational Church merged to form the First Central Congregational Church. The St. Mary's Avenue Church had been established in 1883 under the guidance of Rev. William Scott.

In 1971 the First United Church of Christ (formerly the First Evangelical and Reformed Church) merged with the First Central Congregational Church to form the present organization. Additional historical information about the history of the First Central Congregational Church and related churches can be found by consulting records within the collection.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of the Records of the First Central Congregational Church of Omaha, Nebraska, including related churches, arranged in three subgroups on six rolls of microfilm: (1) Records of the First Central Congregational Church, 1856-1977; (2) Records of the St. Mary's Avenue Congregational Church, 1883-1918; and (3) Records of the First United Church of Christ, 1900-1971.

Subgroup 1 contains records relating to the First Central Congregational Church of Omaha from its establishment in 1856 as the First Congregational Church, through 1977. The bulk of the records in this subgroup consists of minutes of board and congregational meetings, church registers of members, baptisms, deaths, and marriages, and records of various church organizations. Building committee records 1885-1889 are included.

Subgroup 2 includes the Records of the St. Mary's Avenue Congregational Church, 1883-1918, which relate to its history and activities as a separate church prior to merger with the First Congregational Church in 1918. Church registers containing memberships, board minutes, deaths, and baptisms, make up the bulk of this subgroup.

Subgroup 3, records of the First United Church of Christ, 1900-1970 (formerly the First Evangelical and Reformed Church) comprise the record of church activities up until the merger with the First Central Congregational Church in 1971. The records within this subgroup are largely minutes and church registers which include memberships, marriages, baptisms, and deaths prior to 1971. Documents regarding the merger with the First Central Congregational Church are included.

The records were loaned for microfilming in 1978.

DESCRIPTION

Subgroup 1: First Central Congregational Church (Omaha, Neb.) records, 1856-1977
Series 1 - Minutes of Board of Trustees and Church Meetings, 1874-1975

List of Sunday School pupils and teachers, 1950s-1960s
Documents regarding merger of First UCC with First Central Congregational Church, 1971

Annual Reports, 1980 (unfilmed)

ADDED ENTRIES:

Congregational Church in Nebraska
Douglas County (Neb.) -- Churches
Evangelical and Reformed Church in Nebraska
First Central Congregational Church (Omaha, Neb.)
First Congregational Church (Omaha, Neb.)
First Evangelical and Reformed Church (Omaha, Neb.)
First United Church of Christ (Omaha, Neb.)
Omaha (Neb.) -- Churches
St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church (Omaha, Neb.)
St. Mary's Avenue Congregational Church (Omaha, Neb.)
United Church of Christ in Nebraska